December 7, 2009
John Amos. Download image.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - John Amos, O.D., announced today that he is stepping down as dean of the UAB School of Optometry (UABSO) and returning to the faculty effective Dec. 31, with plans to retire several months later.
"I am very proud of all our students and faculty have accomplished these past 10 years," said Amos, who has served as dean since 2000 and been on the faculty since 1972. "We are in a wonderful position for a new leader to take the school to even greater heights."
Amos said he had pledged to UAB Provost Eli Capilouto to work for a smooth transition in the coming months. Capilouto said he would announce an interim dean appointment soon.
"I am grateful that under Dean Amos's leadership the school reached several milestones, including a recent successful site visit for reaccreditation, the upcoming opening of a unique research laboratory where scholars from the fields of optometry and ophthalmology will work side by side in vision research, and the establishment of 37 endowed scholarships that help make professional training more affordable," Capilouto said.
The UABSO celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2009. Amos has seen every one of the school's graduates receive his or her diploma.
"The thing I'm most proud of is that we've been able to graduate almost 1,300 students from the professional program," Amos says. "Many have stayed in Alabama, and as a result there's excellent, high-quality, accessible eye care throughout the state, certainly in regard to primary care.
"I think that's made a difference in the quality of life for the citizens of Alabama."
The UABSO faculty has been the driving force behind the school through the years, Amos said, teaching and graduating students, conducting groundbreaking research and establishing its collective self as a lead voice in the profession. Just as faculty have helped establish UAB's national leadership, students, too, have played critical roles. Students entering the UABSO consistently rank at or near the top of ranking for grade-point average and Optometric Aptitude Test Scores.
Amos received his B.S. and O.D. from the Illinois College of Optometry and his M.S. from Indiana University. He has been selected as the "Optometrist of the Year" by state, regional and national optometric associations. He was also the recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal by the American Optometric Association and elected as a Distinguished Scholar of the National Academies of Practice. He is the immediate past president of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO).
About the UAB School of Optometry
The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry is recognized nationally for its significant contributions to eye and vision care knowledge and vision science. Founded in 1969, the school is the only institution in Alabama to offer the four-year doctor of optometry degree.